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Donna M. Tasker ’59, July 22, 2014, in North Newport, Maine, at 77. At Colby she received the Condon Medal for constructive citizenship. She went on to earn a degree in music education at the Northern Conservatory of Music in Bangor, Maine, and she was an accomplished violinist who played with the Bangor Symphony Orchestra and taught string classes at the Northern Conservatory. A public school music teacher for more than 30 years, she was involved in North Newport’s church and cemetery associations, the Newport Historical Society, and the Old Maine Cemeteries Association. She was president of Norwegian Elk Hound Rescue and Recovery and showed several of her elk hounds at dog shows. Predeceased by her parents, she is survived by an aunt, an uncle, cousins, many friends, and her beloved elk hound and cats.
Lawrence H. Bois ’61, June 13, 2014, in Bangor, Maine, at 75. He earned master’s degrees in social work and hospital administration and a certificate in social service administration. He served as director of social service at Pineland Hospital, assistant superintendent of the Bangor Mental Health Institute, and executive secretary of the Maine Council of Community Mental Health Centers prior to entering the real estate industry with his wife. He is survived by his wife, Joan, two sons, a stepdaughter, two step-grandchildren, and a brother, William J. Bois ’57.
Elmer C. Bartels ’62, July 5, 2014, in Bedford, Mass., at 76. Despite suffering a hockey accident at age 22 that left him a quadriplegic, he led a robust, meaningful life that included a family, a graduate degree in physics from Tufts, a career as a computer programmer and analyst, and volunteer work with organizations including the Massachusetts Association of Paraplegics, which he helped found. In 1977 he was appointed commissioner of the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, and he continued in that role and as state director of rehabilitation for a combined 30 years, during which he helped establish a personal-care-attendant program and ensure the development and availability of assistive technology. Exuberant and optimistic, he was a life board member of Camp Agawam in Raymond, Maine, where he spent 10 summers as a child. He received four honorary doctorates, including one from Colby. Predeceased by his wife of 46 years, Mary, he is survived by a daughter, a son, and a granddaughter.
Betty Dean Johnston Rayle ’63, May 29, 2014, in Solana Beach, Calif., at 72. She loved cooking, entertaining, traveling, creating art, and volunteering. She and her family operated an old-fashioned ice cream shop in Del Mar, Calif., before moving to Whidbey Island, Wash., where she focused on her art, learning to make monotypes and etchings on a press in a studio her husband built for her. She created several lines of greeting cards and won accolades for her artwork. Predeceased by her husband of more than 40 years, Frank, she is survived by two daughters and a son.
Christopher M. Dakin ’65, June 11, 2014, in Salisbury, Conn., at 75. He served in the U.S. Navy for four years and earned a law degree at UConn. He opened his own law firm in 1973 and ran it until his retirement. Predeceased by his wife, Suzette, he is survived by a son, two daughters, and two brothers including Timothy Dakin ’63.
David K. Katz ’69, Aug. 7, 2014, in Palm Springs, Calif., at 66. He earned an M.B.A. from Cornell and held a variety of positions with the U.S. Department of Commerce, both in Washington, D.C., and in overseas assignments. In 1986 he joined the department’s U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, serving in several roles including commercial counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, head of the Commercial Service staff at the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong, and minister-counselor for commercial affairs at the U.S. Embassy in London.
Laura Schmidt Irvine ’70, Oct. 17, 2013, in Cobourg, Ont., Canada, at 64. She is survived by her husband, J. Richard Irvine ’70, daughter Amanda Irvine ’00, and son Michael Irvine.
A. Blair Janes ’73, July 6, 2014, in Newfoundland, Canada, at 63. He earned a master’s in chemistry at UMass-Amherst and worked at SI Group for 28 years before joining Fortitech Premixes, from which he retired in March 2014. He was a family man and a lifelong Red Sox fan who liked geocaching, bicycling, and playing hockey. A 34-year resident of Burnt Hills, N.Y., he was enjoying a long-anticipated personal journey-a summer-long bicycle trip to Newfoundland, where he was born-when he passed away in his sleep. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Susan Cook Janes ’73, two daughters, and a granddaughter.
Michael G. Bolduc ’77, May 29, 2014, in Sandy River Plantation, Maine, at 58. A member of Lambda Chi Alpha at Colby, he enjoyed a 33-year career teaching high school math and coaching. From 1982 to 2009 he worked at Nashua (N.H.) High School, where he cofounded the School-Next-to-a-School alternative education program and created a lacrosse club team. He completed his career in his hometown of Fairfield, Maine, retiring from Lawrence High School in 2010. He was a member of the Rangeley Region Guides’ and Sportsmen’s Association, and he loved hunting, fishing, fly-tying, reading, cooking, and following New England sports. He is survived by two daughters, four granddaughters, and special friend Nancy Hilliard.
Richard D. Abrams ’78, June 15, 2014, in Lexington, Mass., at 57. As cofounder of educational software company Tom Snyder Productions (TSP), he was at the forefront of bringing technology into the classroom. He was a member of Temple Isaiah and served on several boards including those of Educators for Social Responsibility and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. Enthusiastic and steadfast, he had a proclivity for connecting and motivating people. His legacy in Lexington, Mass., is ACROSS Lexington, a network of trails designed to connect residents with each other and with their town. He enjoyed walking, and despite fighting terminal thyroid cancer for nine years, he walked almost until the end of his life. He is survived by his wife, Susan Kenyon ’78, sons Archie Abrams and Stanley Abrams ’12, and daughter Sydney Abrams ’17.
Samuel C. Koch ’79, July 20, 2014, in Hadley, Mass., at 59. He coached UMass men’s soccer for 23 years, leading the team to 12 conference tournament berths, three NCAA tournaments, and the 2007 College Cup semifinals. Originally hired for what was to be the final year of men’s soccer at UMass, he is credited with saving the program. He was named Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year four times, and the Colby men’s soccer program annually awards the Sam Koch Award for spirit and dedication. A proud mentor to his players, he had a wonderful sense of humor and loved spending time with his family. He is survived by his wife, Suzanne, three sons, and a daughter.
